Intro to AFrica
A Satellite View
5 Regions of Africa North Africa (6 countries): Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Western Sahara West Africa (18 countries): Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Central Africa (6 countries): Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe. East Africa (14 countries): made up by the countries in the Horn (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti), plus Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and plus the islands (The Comoros, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Madagascar). Southern Africa (10 countries): Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The climate of Africa is governed by its position on the globe and can be broadly divided into five different climate types: Rainforest – This region is characterised by very high temperatures and high rainfall throughout the year. Savanna – This region has very high temperatures all year and rain during the summer season only. Steppe – This region has high temperatures all year and only limited rainfall during the summer season. Desert – High temperatures throughout the year with very little rainfall. Mediterranean – Warm to high temperatures with rainfall in the autumn and winter months.
Africa’s Size Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi. 4 6 0 0 M I L E S 5 0 0 0 M I L E S Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi. 10% of the world’s population. 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.
Bodies Of Water Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Nile River Niger River L. Chad--> <--Gulf of Aden L. Albert--> Congo River L. Victoria L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Limpopo River Orange River Pacific Ocean
The Mighty Nile River: “Longest River in the World”
The Congo River Basin Covers 12% of the continent. Extends over 9 countries. 2,720 miles long. 99% of the country of Zaire is in the Congo River basin.
The Niger River Basin Covers 7.5% of the continent. Extends over 10 countries. 2,600 miles long.
Hydroelectric Power
Mountains & Peaks Atlas Mts. Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Ruwenzori Mts. Drajensburg Mts.
The African Plateau
Libyan Desert Deserts Sahara Desert Sahel Namib Desert Kalahari Desert
The Sahara Desert
Desertification
The Sahel
Valleys & Plains Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley 3,000 miles long
Seismic Activity in Africa
Africa: The “Tropical” Continent Tropic of Cancer 20° N Africa: The “Tropical” Continent Equator 0° Tropic of Capricorn 20° S
African Trade Winds
West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes
Vegetation Zones
The African Savannah: 13 million sq. mi.
African Rain Forest Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft. Rapid decomposition (very humid). Covers 37 countries. 15% of the land surface of Africa.
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Snow on the Equator?
The Complete Topography Of AFRICA Mediterranean Sea Atlas Mts. Libyan Desert The Complete Topography Of AFRICA Tropic of Cancer 20° N Sahara Desert Red Sea Sahel Nile River Niger River L. Chad--> Great Rift Valley <--Gulf of Aden L. Albert--> Equator 0° Δ Mt. Kenya Congo River L. Victoria Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Ruwenzori Mts. Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Namib Desert Kalahari Desert Limpopo River Tropic of Capricorn 20° S Orange River Drajensburg Mts. Pacific Ocean
Natural Resources